Collapsible crate



Dec. 1', 1925. v, 1,563,356

C. M. FRANKLIN COLLAPSIBL-E CRATE Filed Oct. 3, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 vr ==rd ATTORNEY WITNESS: z i;

C. M. FRANKLIN COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Dec. 1 1925' Filed Oct. 3, 19-24 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS;

Dec. 1 1925- c. M. FRANKLIN COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Filed Oct. 3, 1924 4sheets-sheet s :ITT FIT O O O O INVENTOR wrrmsss AT'rqnsY Dec. 1 1925 C.M. FRANKLIN COLLAPS I BLE CRATE Filed Oct. 5, 192 4 Sheets-Sheet 4ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES CHARLEY MELLVILL FRANKLIN, F GRISWOLD, IOWA.

coLLArsIBLE CRATE.

Application filed October 3, 1924. Serial No. 731,483.

residing at Griswold, in the county of Cass and State of Iowa, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Crates,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to collapsible or knock-down crates and itsprincipal object is to provide a crate of this character which when inknocked-down position will take up a minimum space and when set up foruse will be rigid and durable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knock-down crate forshipping which can be quickly set up for use or knocked down and storedin a comparatively small space.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a knocked downshipping crate which embodies a plurality of sections one of which isvertically movable and certain of which are'hinged and arranged inoperative position to support the vertically movable section in rigidposition for use. hen the crate is in knocked down position thevertically movable section will overlie the hinged sections and all ofthe same against accidental movement.

lVith the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind theinvention consists of the novel combination of elements, constructionand arrangement of parts and operation to be hereinafter specificallyreferred to, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the crate in a collapsed position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the crate knocked down;

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the crate set up for use;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the crate set up for use;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the crate set up for use;

Figure 7 is a side elevation taken at right angle to Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a perspective of the vertically movable top section of thecrate;

Figure 9 is a perspective of parts of the crate.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein corresponding characters ofrefer- .ence denotes the corresponding parts of the several views thenumeral 5 designates the bottom section of my improved crate while 6designates a top or upper section.

Side walls or sections 7 are hingedly connected as at 8 to the bottomsection 5 and when in use are arranged in the positions shown in Figures4, 5 and 9, and when collapsed lie parallel to the bottom section asshown particularly in Figure 3.

Secured to the bottom section 5 at opposite sides thereof and at pointsoutwardly from the adjacent hinged sections 7 are pairs of verticallyextending posts 8 each of which is provided with a hinged joint 9adjacent their lower ends. The longitudinal edges of the top sections 6are provided with recesses 10 which slidably receive the verticallyarranged posts 8. Straps 11 are secured to the longitudinal edges of thesection 5 and bridge the recesses and serve to hold the strap sectionsagainst lateral shifting. Stops 12 are carried by the upper ends of theposts 8 and adapted to be engaged by the straps 11 to limit the upwardmovement of the top section 6 when arranging with same in operativeposition. Shoulders 13 are also formed upon the inner faces of theseposts which accommodate themselves in inclined recesses l t in theadjacent or hinged sections 7 and engaged beneath the edges of the topsections 6 toassist in supporting the same in rigid position. Pairs ofspaced feet 16 are secured to the upper face of the sections 6 andextend transversely across the same. The cleats of each pair aredisposed at opposite sides of the recesses 10 and accommodate the posts8 when the latter are arranged in a horizontal position as shown inFigure 2. In order to hold the posts in position between the pairs ofcleats latch elements 18 are provided to engage the free ends of theposts as shown in Figure 1.

The top section 6 is provided with a 1ongitudinal extended door opening19 which is normally closed by a slide 20 received in guides 21 at theopposite ends of the top sect-ion and against longitudinal displacementby detachable fastenings 22. A partition wall 23 is provided for thecrate and has its far edge pivoted as at 24 to bring about a horizontalaxis to permit that this division wall be arranged in a horizontalposition upon the section 5 when the crate is collapsed.

In order to hold the hinged sections 7 carried by this section.

which extend parallel to the division wall 23 in Vertical position hasps26 are pivoted to opposite ends of the section 5 and engageable in eyes27 carried by these sections 7. When these hasps 26 are in inoperativeposition the free ends thereof are engaged behind vertical shafts 28 onthe section 5 and are engageable with hook elements 27 carried by theupperends of these sections 7 and in the eyes 28 carried by the oppositeend of the top section 6. With the hooks 2'7 and eyes 2-8 in the mannershown in Figure 4: these hinged end sections 7 will be held in verticalposition. Vhen the hasps 26 are not in use they are arranged to extendalong the sides of the outer edges of the bottom section 5 with theirfree ends engaged behind vertical shafts 29 From the disclosure it willbe observed that when it is necessary to set up the crate the topsection (3 is raised vertically on the posts 8 and the sections 7 swungto a vertical position and engaged below the edges of the section (3. Incollapsing the structure the end walls are first swung inwardly tooverlie the bottom section 5 and the top section 6 allowed to movedownwardly to rest upon the sections 7. The posts 8 are then swung to ahorizontal position to engage between the pairs of cleats 16 where theyare locked against movement by means of the pivoted latch element 18,thus all the parts are rigidly held together and the entire assemblypacked or stored in a small space.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention it should be understood that changes in the arran ement ofparts may be made and that I am only limited by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A knocked down crate comprising a bottom section, hinged. sectionscarried by the bottom section and capable of being arranged in ahorizontal or vertical position, a top section, guides carried thereby,hinged posts carried by the bottom section and slidably received in theguides, the posts being adapted to be arranged in a horizontal positionon the top section when the crate is collapsed, and latch elementsengageable with the posts when the latter are arranged in such positionwhereby to hold. all the parts against movement with respect to eachother.

2. A knocked down crate comprising a bottom section, hinged sectionscarried thereby capable of being folded upon the bottom section wnen notin use, hinged posts carried by the bottom section and adapted to bearranged either in a vertical or horizontal position, a top sectioncarried thereby and slidably receiving the posts and pairs of cleats onthe top section each pair of which being adapted to receive one of theposts therebetween when the latter are arranged in a horizontalpositionand latch elements carried by the sections and en 'ageable with theposts to hold the same in position. y

In testimony whereof I ailix my signa ture.

CHARLEY MELLVILL FRANKLIN,

